FPU for PhD Immunology

CaixaResearch Institute; España; Presencial; EUR 20.000 - 27.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

International scientific environment

FPU proposal support

State-of-the-art infrastructure

Descripción de la vacante

The CaixaResearch Institute, a newly established immunology research centre in Barcelona, invites PhD candidates to join the FPU program. You will study immune aging, clonal haematopoiesis and mmunological responses using cutting-edge techniques.

The project integrates animal models with human samples, employing spectral flow cytometry, single-cell transcriptomics, and genome editing. Collaboration and rigorous training are emphasized.

Formación

• Academic requirements: GPA 8.0 in bachelor/master (Spanish grading) and enrollment/admission to doctoral program for 2026/2027.
• Not yet enrolled but eligible to do so by October 2027.
• Experience in immunology, aging biology, or cellular biology is desirable.

Responsabilidades

• Investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying immune aging using animal models and human samples.
• Apply spectral flow cytometry, single-cell transcriptomics and functional assays.
• Collaborate with labs within CaixaResearch Institute and external partners.

Herramientas

Flow cytometry

Single-cell sequencing

TCR sequencing

Cell culture

Descripción del empleo

Organisation/Company CaixaResearch Institute Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 20 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The CaixaResearch Institute is a newly established immunology research centre with the mission of becoming a global leader in immunological research. It focuses on studying immune system processes and their interaction with the most prevalent diseases, including neurological, oncological, and infectious conditions, as well as on analysing the influence of environmental factors. The institute is devoted to understanding the role of the immune system in health and disease, analysing the environmental factors that influence these processes, and developing advanced technologies to observe and decode them in greater detail.

The institute is part of the rich ecosystem of biomedical research centres supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, which includes ISGlobal, the Barcelona Beta Brain Research Centre (BBRC), VHIO, IRSICaixa, and the Sant Joan de Déu Foundation—all based in Barcelona as well as The Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) in Lisbon.

FPU aims to support early-stage researchers in developing their scientific careers and completing a PhD. FPU fellows will carry out an original doctoral research project for 4 years, gaining advanced knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to scientific progress.

Candidates are encouraged to review the list of CaixaResearch Institute labs currently accepting FPU fellows (see below) to identify research areas that align with their interests and find an appropriate CaixaResearch Institute supervisor.

The CaixaResearch Institute labs currently accepting FPU Fellowship candidates are the following:

We are looking for a PhD candidate interested in understanding how somatic mutations arising in hematopoietic stem cells shape immune cell development and function during ageing. The PhD candidate will investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking clonal haematopoiesis with altered innate immune responses, combining human experimental models with genome editing, advanced flow cytometry and single-cell and epigenomic approaches. The project will explore how clonal evolution and inflammatory environments interact to influence immune function and resilience.

• Keywords: Clonal haematopoiesis, somatic mutations, hematopoietic stem cells, innate immunity, inflammation, immune ageing, clonal evolution, single-cell transcriptomics, epigenetics
• Preferred expertise: Immunology, haematology, stem cell biology. Experience with cell culture, flow cytometry, genome editing and/or bioinformatics is desirable. Candidates interested in combining experimental and computational approaches are particularly encouraged to apply.

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to join our lab under the FPU program, working on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying immune aging (immunosenescence).

The project combines animal models with longitudinal human samplesto study how aging reshapes innate and adaptive immune cell populations and function, using state-of-the-art approaches including spectral flow cytometry, scRNA seq and functional assays. A key goal is to understand how age-related immune remodelling contributes to chronic low-grade inflammation ("inflammaging"), and susceptibility to disease.

• Preferred expertise: Background in immunology, aging biology, or cellular biology, experience with spectral flow cytometryorcell cultureis a strong plus, Comfortable working with animal models, enthusiastic, with strong teamwork skills

We are seeking a PhD candidate to investigate maternal immunity during pregnancy and lactation, and its impact on tumour progression. The project combines state-of-the-art single-cell transcriptomics, spectral flow cytometry, and functional assays to decipher immune remodelling and neuroimmunological crosstalk.

• Preferred expertise: background in immunology or neuroimmunology. Experience with in vivo mouse models,single-cell techniquesand spectral flow cytometry is desired.

Gemma Moncunill Lab

We are seeking a PhD candidate interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the durability of antibody responses tomalaria vaccines in African children. The PhD candidate will investigate the innate–Tfh–B-cell axis using longitudinal paediatric samples and state-of-the-art single-cell transcriptomic, TCR-sequencing, flow cytometry and functional approaches. The project will also determine how malaria exposure disrupts these immune pathways and contributes to vaccine-induced antibody waning.

• Preferred expertise: background in immunology, infectious diseases, vaccinology or cellular biology. Experience with cell culture and spectral flow cytometry is desired

We are looking for a PhD candidate interested in exploring how glyco-immune circuits shape anti-tumour immunity and therapeutic response, with a particular focus on solid tumours and pancreatic cancer. The candidate will join the Glyco-Immunology Laboratory, that investigates how glycan–lectin interactions regulate immunity, with the aim of translating these discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers.

• Keywords: cancer biology, immunology, glycobiology and tumour microenvironment
• Preferred expertise: cell culture, flow cytometry, molecular biology. Desired: T-cell biology, CAR-T cells, organoids, functional assays, mouse models, multi-omics

We invite applications from motivated PhD candidatesinterested in investigating the immunological and synaptic mechanisms underlying autoimmune encephalitis, using patient samples and mouse models.

The project will examine how treatments such as anti-CD20 therapies and CAR T-cellsinfluence disease progression and pathogenic mechanisms. The candidate will also characterise immune alterations using single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptomic approaches.

• Keywords: Autoimmune encephalitis, synaptic dysfunction, B-cell receptor sequencing, T-cell immunity, TCR sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, single-cell transcriptomics.
• Preferred expertise: Background in neuroscience and/or immunology, with experience in or interest in monoclonal antibodies, animal models, cell culture, confocal microscopy, and spectral flow cytometry.

Please carefully confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for this call before applying. More information: FPU guidelines

You are not eligible to apply if

• You have already started a predoctoral period with another predoctoral grant or fellowship.
• You hold a PhD awarded by any university.
• You have previously held a predoctoral contract for more than 12 months.

Specific Requirements

Academic requirements.

• You have obtained a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 8.0 in your Bachelor's degree, according to the Spanish grading system.
• You are enrolled in or have been admitted to a doctoral programme for the 2026/2027 academic year.
• You are not yet enrolled or admitted, but you will be eligible to do so by the time the contract is formalized (i.e. you will have completed your Master's degree by October 2027).

For qualifications obtained outside Spain you must attach the declaration of equivalence of the grade point average ( MICIU electronic office ) of both bachelor and master, if applicable.

Level Excellent

Additional Information

What we offer

• The opportunity to join a newly established immunology research centre with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a highly collaborative research environment.
• Access to the ecosystem of biomedical research centres supported by the "La Caixa" Foundation.
• Institutional support throughout the preparation and submission of the FPU proposal.
• Guidance from experienced principal investigators and support services during the application process.
• A vibrant international scientific environment in Barcelona.

Selection process

Candidates will be selected based on their CV, academic record and alignment with the host laboratory.